Wheel Bearings – Details, episodes & analysis

Robbie is back from Germany where he got to drive the updated Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and he wants one. Nicole got to drive a pair of new Hyundai Santa Fes at home and at a family wedding. Meanwhile, Sam got surprisingly good efficiency from the latest edition of the VW ID4 but those window switches are still dumb.

In the news, the US market version of the VW ID Buzz finally has a price and let's just say affordability isn't part of the formula. Ford has again pivoted on its electric vehicle plans and there won't be anything fresh in showrooms for a few more years. GM is bringing some plug-in hybrid powertrains to its US lineup, but the new Equinox won't be home to this system. Ford has updated the Bronco Sport for 2025 with some cool new lifestyle features. Tesla has been purging old claims about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving but the internet never forgets and Robbie visited Electrify Expo and you can too.

Links

VW ID Buzz pricing and range

Ford backs off on EV plans

Tesla purging FSD claims

Elon's 2016 Autopilot V2 conference call

The purged blog post

Chevrolet won't give us Chinese developed Equinox PHEV

2025 Ford Bronco Sport

Electrify Expo

Our regular lineup is back together, after a delayed arrival from Robbie. Robbie got to spend some time with the new Toyota Prius Prime while spending a couple of days in Detroit. Sam drove the Hyundai Kona Electric and Nicole has been in the latest Subaru Impreza RS and Mazda CX-90 since she last appeared.

This week Sam got to visit the Volvo Cars factory near Charleston, South Carolina where they have just added production of the Polestar 3 in addition to the Volvo EX90. JD Power continues to survey EV drivers about their satisfaction with the public charging experience and while it has ticked upward overall just a but this year, it still has a lot of room for improvement. While traditional auto shows are flagging, Monterey Car Week has become the place to launch premium and expensive machines and wild concepts. We discuss the Cadillac Opulent Velocity and Acura Performance EV concepts and the production 2025 Lincoln Navigator. In China, GM like most other non-Chinese brands is struggling against surging domestic competitors. One of those competitors is Zeekr which has launched a new battery capable of some impressive charging speeds.

Links

Volvo/Polestar factory visit

Charging satisfaction improves - a bit

Cadillac Opulent Velocity concept

2025 Lincoln Navigator

GM China Layoffs

New fast charging Zeekr LFP battery

Acura Performance EV concept

This week, Nicole has been driving the Genesis GV60 Performance, Robbie spent time with the Ineos Grenadier and Quartermaster and Sam drove the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Nicole also went on an electric off-road adventure with the Polaris Ranger EXP in Michigan's Upper Penninsula and drove the new GMC Acadia. Sam went to the Stellantis investor day and got to try out the Peugeot e-3008 and rode in the Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore. Dealers are once again demonstrating why customers hate them by slapping huge markups on the Chevrolet Equinox EV. We also answer listener questions.

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Links

VW ID Buzz Campers

Stellantis investor day

Polaris off-road adventure

Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore

Peugeot e-3008

STLA Brain, Cockpit, Autodrive

GMC Acadia first drive

Don't pay markups for the Chevy Equinox EV

Hamilton's North Coast Adventures

Nicole is travelling somewhere in the Earth's biosphere so it's just the boys this time around. Since this was recorded just a few days after the last episode, Robbie hasn't driven anything but Sam shares his thoughts on the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

In the news, Ferrari has unveiled its first four-door regular production model, the Purosangue (don''t call it an SUV). Honda has significantly the raised the base price on the new CR-V and the final Chrysler 300 won't get a Hellcat. Tesla faces a class action lawsuit over unfullfilled promises about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. The VW ID Aero will replace the Arteon and the 2023 Lincoln Corsair gets a bigger grille. Finally, Sam has a conversation with Schaeffler Group CTO Jeff Hemphill about some of the technologies the supplier is developing to improve EV efficiency.

Links

Ferrari Purosangue

2023 Honda CR-V pricing jump

Tesla FSD lawsuit

Not enough hellcats for Chrysler 300C

VW ID Aero to replace Arteon by 2024

2023 Lincoln corsair

Over the past week we've had an assortment of travel and gigs but we're back in the saddle with fresh material. Now that the embargo has lifted, Robbie can finally share his thoughts on driving the VW ID Buzz, while Nicole had the new Kia Sportage. Before heading out to San Francisco, Sam had the Volvo C40 Recharge and while in the Bay area he drove a Chevrolet Bolt EV.

In the news, we've seen a bunch of new upcoming products in the leadup to the return of the much diminished Detroit Auto Show. The week before the show, Jeep started to reveal its 2024 EVs including the all-new Recon and Wagoneer S. Chevrolet also took the wraps off the Equinox EV. The big only big reveal at the show itself was the reworked 2024 Ford Mustang that's coming next summer. The king of designing devices with fewer buttons, Jonny Ive said that cars should have more buttons and less touch. Ram is ending production of the diesel version of the 1500 pickup so order yours now. While in San Francisco, Sam and Robbie both got to tour Cruise headquarters and ride in actual self-driving robotaxis.

Links

2024 Ford Mustang

Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S EVs

Chevrolet Equinox EV

Jonny Ive wants more buttons in cars

No more Ram 1500 diesel

Cruise

VW ID Buzz first drive

As summer winds down, we've got lots of cool stuff that we've been driving this week. Nicole had the plug-in hybrid version of the Hyundai Tucson Limited with all-wheel-drive. Roberto has the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Sam had the Toyota GR86 Premium and the Lucid Air Grand Touring.

There are lots of EV related stories in the news this week starting with using the Ford F-150 Lightning as a generator after a heavy storm whipped through. In another part of the country, a doctor powered a vasectomy with a Rivian R1T. Buick wants to go all electric this decade and it wants dealers that will be fully supportive. Toyota is converting a pair of Japanese engine plants to battery production and expanding plans for a US battery plant. Fuel cells are likely to play an important part in electrifying larger vehicles. German Insurance company AXA messed in trying to demonstrate EV safety.

Links

Buick offers to buy out dealers that don't want to go electric

Toyota converting 2 engine plants to battery production

Toyota nearly triples investment in NC battery plant

Fuel cells still a thing for larger vehicles

German insurer fakes battery fire

Vasectomy via Rivian

The crew reconvenes to catch up on the Acura Integra, Polestar 2 single motor, Toyota Corolla Cross, Ford F-150 Raptor and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE.

Since they haven't spoken since before Woodward Dream Cruise and Monterey Car week, Robbie and Nicole share their impressions of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept. Robbie tells us about the Acura Precision Concept EV and we discuss naming Acura's first EV the ZDX. There was also the Lincoln L100 concept and the Meyers Manx EV. A Swedish study says touchscreens are bad, and we all agree. Lamborghini says it will need more than power to compete in the EV age. An Australian Bank will stop providing financing for ICEs in 2025 and sales of new ICEs are getting banned in 2035.

Links

Dodge Charger Daytona SRT

Acura Precision EV concept

Lincoln L100

Touchscreens are bad

Lamborghini needs more than power

Meyers Manx EV

No loans for Australian ICEs

No new ICEs in California

Acura ZDX review

This week Sam is flying solo and he's got interviews with Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis, Stellantis head of propulsion Micky Bly and Ford Mustang and Shelby marketing and brand manager Jim Owens.

Links

Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept

Dodge Hornet

Mustang Stampede Sept. 14

This week, Roberto tells us about driving the other trucklet, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Nicole drives the Mazda CX-30 and takes a road trip in the Nissan Rogue with its new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo and Sam has a blast in the Hyundai Elantra Na.

All three of our intrepid hosts ventured to North Carolina to drive the refreshed Hyundai Palisade on a really long dirt driveway. EV prices are heading up instead of down and you'll be able to chow down on Swedish meatballs and cinamon rolls as Electrify America is coming to the home of the flat pack. Nicole has some thoughts on Cadillac's new model names. Finally Ralph Nader takes aim at Tesla "full self-driving" and we answe a bunch of questions.

Links

Electrify America at Ikea

Ralph Nader aims at Tesla

EV prices going up

Cadillac's new names

Accidental Tech Podcast #495

Accurate Ranging Perception

Luminar ProActive Safety

This week Sam went through two vehicles that are basically the same, internal combustion engine, 4 wheels, 4 doors plus a hatch and neat paint jobs, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback and the Maserati Levante Trofeo. One is slightly more expensive than the other. Nicole has been driving Mazda MX-5 RF and Robbie is still foregoing new cars while he catches up on a backlog of reviews

In the news, VW has started US production of the ID.4 with a new cheaper standard model with less range and more screen. VW is also confirmed as the customer for the $4 billion lidar order from Innoviz and GM is doubling the number of roads where Super Cruise can be used. Toyota has just barely started selling the bZ4X and is already considering a buyback. Sam spoke with Hyundai's VP of Product and Mobility Olabisi Boyle and we answer some questions.

Links

2023 VW ID.4

VW orders 8M lidar sensors

GM expands Super Cruise to 400K miles of roads

Toyota might buy back bZ4X

Olabisi Boyle

This or Michigan